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Tribune article by Laura Jensen

Hastings Public Library staff

Laura is a Library Assistant at the Hastings Public Library. Call Laura at (402) 461-2346 or e-mail Laura.

For those of waning resolve—January 17, 2014

So, if you’re one of those rare readers who is a) strangely obsessed with nonexistent holidays and b) surfs the web too often for her own darn good, then you might already know that today (January 17th) is the long-unknown but frequently celebrated “Ditch New Years Resolutions Day.”
As for me? I’ve been waiting for this not-quite holiday. Eagerly. Desperately. Breath held, fingers crossed, Christmas-gut sucked in. Gosh, it feels like I’ve been checking my calendar every day (that is, if I were the sort to check my calendar). Meanwhile, I’ve been eating greens, keeping a bedtime, and making nice with the gym.
It’s felt like a lifetime.
So will I fall off the bike (um, elliptical) and say goodbye to my New Years resolution on January 17th? Or will I stay strong? Stay…healthy?
No idea, folks.
But for those of you who feel like you’ve been clinging to your resolution like it’s the skinny edge of a very high, very murderous cliff, I have a few books to bolster your waning determination. The Most Commonly Broken New Years Resolutions are listed below (thank you, Time magazine). Alongside that list, I’ve included some suggestions from our collection to reinforce your resolve. So if you are struggling to:

Quit Smoking try reading: Never Smoke Again: the Top 10 Ways to Stop Smoking Now & Forever by Grant Cooper

Learn Something New try reading: Get a Hobby!: 101 All-Consuming Diversions for any Lifestyle by Tina Barseghian.

Eat Healthier and Diet try reading: Food Matters: a Guide to Conscious Eating With More than 75 Recipes by Mark Bittman

Get Out of Debt and Save Money try reading: The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey

Spend More Time with Family try reading: Family Fun and Games by the Diagram Group

Travel to New Places try reading: Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips by National Geographic

Be Less Stressed try reading: Stress Management for Dummies by Allen Elkin

Volunteer try reading: Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul: Stories to Celebrate the Spirit of Courage, Caring and Community by Jack Canfield

Drink Less try reading: Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp

And if you are just struggling in general, might I recommend Willpower: the Rediscovery of Humans' Greatest Strength by Roy Baumeister or David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell? These tried and true New York Times Bestsellers are sure to help you battle out your resolutions.
Finally, for those who have just plain given up – or, like me, are quite happy to throw their resolutions under the bus – I’d like to remind you that the library has our annual Chili Cook-off tomorrow. It starts at noon and goes till 2:00; tasting tickets will be sold at the door for a svelte and slimming $5 (have you noticed that most people will try almost anything if it is described as “svelte and slimming”? Also note: all of the proceeds are going toward our renovation fund). So overall, the food will be good, the people will be great, and there really isn’t a better way to ditch your diet than to enjoy a bowl of prize-winning chili.
Hope to see you there!

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